Underwater propulsion apparatus



May 15, 1962 A. PESTRONK UNDERWATER PROPULSION APPARATUS Filed Oct. 13, 1958 INVENTOR. ARNOLD PEST RONK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,467 UNDERWATER PROPULSION APPARATUS Arnold Pestronk, Mount Vernon, N.Y., assignor to The Seamless Rubber Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 766,755 6 Claims. (Cl. 114--16) This invention relates to an underwater propulsion apparatus and more particularly to a self-propelled underwater unit which will enable an individual practicing skin-diving to operate under water for an extended time without the use of fins or other contrivances to propel him through the water. It is particularly adapted for more or less extended periods under the surface of the water without the diver having to come to the surface for air or to have to propel himself from place to place.

An object of the invention is to provide a safe, convenient device which will be strapped to the back of the diver and which will enable him to move along under water without unusual effort on his part.

With the present invention it is only necessary that the diver steer his course and determine his depth. Since the weight of the device is negatived by the pressure of the water it puts no burden on the swimmer and allows him to proceed at will from place to place.

Other objects and advantages of the invention become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diver employing my device.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the thereof.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation taken on the line 3-3 of operating portion FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in cross section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

In the past it has not been unusual for an underwater diver to carry a supply of air strapped to his back which is supplied to him according to his needs by a breathing apparatus so that he may breathe under water. It has been necessary, however, for him to propel himself by means of swimming from place to place and the territory over which he can move is necessarily considerably limited.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the underwater propulsion device of the present invention is shown strapped by suitable harness to the back of a swimmer employing a mask 12 connected by means of a hose 14 to a tank or cell 15 containing oxygen or other life sustaining mixture of gases. The cell 15 is mounted in the receptacle which is provided with a clamping ring 21 and suitable clamping means 22 engaging hooks 23 on the receptacle to hold it firmly but removably in place. The clamping ring may be of the package type having an operating handle 24 to force the aqua-lung into the receptacle and hold it firmly there. The receptacle 20 is welded to the chamber 26 at the junction 27 and is provided with a carrying handle 28 for convenience of transportation. The chamber 26 consists primarily of two parts, the forward part 30 and the rearward portion 31, which is shown in FIG. 4 as separable. Flanges 32 and 33 are provided to accommodate one or more 0 rings 34 and to be engaged by a clamping ring 35 having a tightening screw 36 to seal the two parts together. It will be understood that when the two parts are sealed together the entire chamber is waterproof.

'Mounted in the forward chamber 30 is a battery 38 which is electrically connected by suitable wiring 39 to an electric motor 40. The motor is in the rearward por- 3,034,467 Patented May 15,1962

tion of the chamber 31 and is welded by a suitable shield 41 at '42 to prevent leakage. The motor 40 mounts the propeller or screw 44 and is controlled by a starting switch 45. A shield or guard 46 is mounted on suitable supports 47 which in turn are welded to the chamber 31 and provided with openings 47 to allow the passage of water. It will be understood that when the unit is assembled it is entirely waterproof and that only the rear end of the motor, which is in turn sealed, and the propeller are exposed within the guard 46.

In use the device is strapped to the shoulders and back of the diver by means of the harness 11 and the mask 12 applied. This. enables the diver to go under water and to remain there for considerable time being fed by oxygen from the cell. It will also be understood that suitable supporting means such as shown inFIG. 5 at 48 will be provided for the battery case 50 and will be welded to the case 50. The battery 38 may be removed from the case for replacement or recharging.

it will be noted that the guard 46 is provided with openings 51 to allow the free passage of Water therethrough. In addition to being a guard the member 46 makes an ideal stand to support the unit out of water and to make the attachment to the body easier.

It will also be understood that the switch means may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, which, basically, comprises an electrically propelled combinatiton employing a conventional aqua-lung which will enable a diver to be moved under water as well as on the surface. It will be further understood that the diver while being automatically moved through the water will be able to control his depth and direction by use of his feet and arms and for this purpose fins 49 may be used although they are not necessary as motor power. They may be used in conjunction with the device to increase the speed.

I claim:

1. An under water propulsion device for use with an aqua cell and mask, comprising a watertight chamber, means on said chamber to receive and hold the aqua cell, a battery mounted in said watertight chamber, a motor mounted in said chamber powered by said battery extending through the rear wall of said watertight chamber and a propeller operated by said motor.

2. An under water propulsion device for use with an aqua cell and mask, comprising a watertight chamber, means on one end of said chamber to receive and hold the aqua cell, a battery mounted in said water tight chamber, a motor powered by said battery extending through the other end of said watertight chamber a shaft on said motor, a propeller on said shaft, and a harness on said device to fasten it to the body of the wearer.

3. An under water propulsion device for use with an aqua cell and mask, comprising a watertight chamber, means on said chamber to receive and hold the aqua cell,

' a battery mounted in said watertight chamber, a motor powered by said battery extending through said watertight chamber said motor having a shaft, a propeller on said shaft and a guard around said propeller.

4. An under water propulsion device for use with an aqua cell and mask, comprising a watertight chamber, means on said chamber to receive and hold the aqua cell, a battery mounted in said watertight chamber, a motor powered by said battery having a shaft extending through the rear wall of said watertight chamber, a propeller on said shaft, a guard around said propeller and means to allow water to flow through and around said guard to said propeller.

5. An underwater propulsion device for use with an air tank carried on the back of an underwater swimmer comprising a housing, a propeller rotatably mounted at one end of the housing, means at the other end of said housing to receive the base of the air tank, a watertight 3 chamber defined Within the housing between the base of the air tank and the propeller, a 'battery mounted in said watertight chamber, a motor in said watertight chamber and powered by said battery, said housing being in two separable sections to allow access to the battery and the motor Within the Watertight chamber, and a shaft driven by the motor and extending, through the housing to drive thepropeller. V

6. An underwater propulsion device as set forth in claim 5 including. flanges. on each of said two sections, a 10 2,864,361

1,586,595 Barringer, June 1, 1926 2,722,021 Keogh-Dwyer Nov. 1, 1955 2,823,670 Page Feb. 18, 1958 Johnson Dec. 16, 1958 

